No grace for PSU visitors

December 3, 2012

UNIVERSITY PARK - Etiquette tells us that hosts are supposed to be gracious and giving.

In college wrestling - specifically, Sunday's Nittany Lion Open at Rec Hall - No. 1 Penn State didn't subscribe to that social standards.

The Nittany Lions sent 13 wrestlers into the semifinals, 10 into the finals of nine weights and crowned five champions.

It was a good day by most standards, except for those of Penn State coach Cael Sanderson.

"We lost some close matches there in the finals against some tough kids. You want to win those but we got to take them and learn from them and move on," he said. "Five champions, that's something to be happy about, but you want 10."

Penn State entered 30 wrestlers, almost its entire roster, and 18 of those entrants placed.

Andrew Alton, making his 2012 debut while still recovering from a preseason ankle injury, went 6-0 on the day with five pins, including the final.

"I knew after I got taken down, I knew he was coming up with underhooks. I shot in and he came up and he tried to underhook me and I just went right into the headlock," he said. "I didn't know if I was going to wrestle all of the matches. It depended on how my ankle felt. It felt good all day and I think I'm ready for the season to roll."

Believe it or not, Alton said he didn't push the action as much as he would have liked.

"I don't wrestle as aggressive right now with my shots, but I will be back with my shots in about two weeks here, wrestling full on," he said.

Taylor was just as dominant in winning the title at 165. He recorded three pins and two technical falls in his five wins.

Brown rolled up three majors and a technical fall before edging No. 11 Greg Zannetti of Rutgers, 7-4, in the final.

"I saw some areas I did well in, but also areas I've got to pick it up. It was a good day," Brown said. "Normally I get stronger throughout the tournament and I felt like I did today."

Ruth piled up two majors and two technical falls before an 11-4 decision of No. 10 Jimmy Sheptock of Maryland in the final. Sheptock scored an early takedown on the edge of the mat against Ruth that seemed to inspire him.

"It was an honest takedown, but I don't like giving those up. People lose big matches because of things like that," he said. "It's good to have at least some type of fire after that. You can't let them take you down and expect to just ride you."

Wright scored three falls before a 6-1 semifinal win. He was pushed into overtime by redshirting teammate Morgan McIntosh, but won 5-3 with a takedown in the sudden victory period.

"Quentin wrestled well. He beat Morgan. That's a great match," Sanderson said. "I think Morgan pushed him and that's what we want."

Despite Gulibon placing higher at 133 than starter Jordan Conaway, Sanderson said the plan is still to redshirt the four-time PIAA champion.

"Redshirt's the plan. Conaway's going to get better as the season goes along. He's going to continue to pick things up because he's a student of the game," he said. "We're comfortable. I believe in Conaway. He's a kid who's going to hustle. I know when you put him in the spotlight, he'll even wrestle better."

And, at heavyweight where Lawson and Gingrich have been splitting time, Sanderson said nothing's been settled yet.

"That's a good question. I haven't even really thought about that yet," he said. "They both have areas they need to work on but they both have a lot of promise and a lot of positives.

Penn State (2-0) now has a week to rest up and prepare for its next dual meet. Indiana rolls into Rec Hall Dec. 9 for a 2 p.m. Big Ten Conference showdown.

"I think our guys are wrestling well," Sanderson said. "We went through here injury-free, which is the first time, I think. Healthy and happy, that's always good."